48! Van Gorp, Central take down league men’s basketball leaders
CEDAR RAPIDS-Taking down not only the American Rivers leaders but a 43-year-old scoring record, all-American center Joshua Van Gorp (senior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) pumped in 48 points as the Central College men’s basketball team rocked No. 23-ranked Coe College 94-75 Saturday.
Van Gorp topped the school mark of 45 established by two-time conference MVP Jeff Verhoef in 1979 and tied by Steve Kraayenbrink in 1981. He also shattered Kraayenbrink’s single-game field goals mark of 18 with a memorable 20-of-24 shooting effort. He was 8-of-9 from the free throw line as well and pulled down 14 boards, his 10th double-double of the season and 17th of his remarkable career.
“It was just an unbelievable performance,” coach Joe Steinkamp said. “He was going off the blocks or fading down, it didn’t matter. Everything just went in. It was crazy. It was one of the most amazing games I’ve ever seen.”
The defending conference champion Dutch (14-6 overall, 8-3 conference) elbowed their way back into this year’s league race, scrambling the top of the standings. They’re now a game back of Coe (18-3 overall, 9-2 conference), with No. 23 Loras College at 7-2 after dropping No. 19 Nebraska Wesleyan University to 8-3 with an 84-64 win at Dubuque Saturday.
Coe had staged a comeback 85-83 overtime men’s basketball victory over Pella with a buzzer-beating tip-in Dec. 9.
This time, no drama.
Down 24-23 with 8:49 left in the first half, Van Gorp scored 10 of the next 12 Dutch points as they burst ahead 35-26 and led at the break 44-30. Van Gorp had 20 points in the first half.
That was just the appetizer.
Central stretched the advantage to as many as 21 as Van Gorp added another 10 field goals and eight free throws in a 28-point half.
Despite hitting just 2-of-12 from 3-point range, Central shot 63.2% from the field overall while limiting Coe to 38.4% shooting. The Dutch, who ranked No. 3 in Division III in rebounding margin at the start of the day, dominated the glass again, 45-23.
“I think defensively, we were just more locked in,” Steinkamp said. “We did a better job of helping. Drew Edwards (5th-year, Eden Prairie, Minn.) did a great job. They did miss a few threes but other than that, they just didn’t get a lot of clean shots around the rim. And then we just rebounded at an unbelievable level.”
Guard Kaleb Brand (senior, Mount Vernon) had 14 points while forward Grant Johnson (5th-year, Waukee, Van Meter HS) added 11 with eight rebounds. Forward Kole Tupa (senior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) had six assists and four steals.
“Kole Tupa was really active,” Steinkamp said. “He guarded one of their best players, got some steals and was really good in transition, too. He’s just playing at a high level on both ends.”
Central is home Wednesday for a women’s-men’s doubleheader with Buena Vista University with the men’s game at 8 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. A video webcast and live stats can be accessed through athletics.central.edu. Central defeated the Beavers 83-76 at Storm Lake Nov. 29. They took a 10-8 overall record and 3-6 conference mark into Saturday’s game at Luther College.
“Every game is big,” Steinkamp said.
